The Irish standard., 1887-01-08


float over us, Erin's sons in this far
Northern latitude would mount to diz-
zier heights of fame under ITS fostering
influence. God speed the day for SUCH
happy consummation
SOME PROMINENT IRISH CANADIANS.
Pacing briskly up and down the
| marble lobby of the Russell, the palace
hotel of the Canadian capital, every fine
afternoon may be observed q stout,
fresh-looking gentleman of tall stature,
neatly dressed in a suit Of dark tweed
and wearing heavy moustache in
which silver hairs are intertwjned with
those Of darker hue. AS he puifs a
choice Psrtega, his eyes never leave the
smoothly polished blocks which he
traverses up and down repeatedly. till q
seeming reverie is broken by a hotel
messenger, who hastily hands The gen.
tlenlan a letter addressed 1.-The lion.
John Costigan.'' The receiver of ths
document is Canala's Minister Of In-
land Revenue, TO whom the Irishmen
of the Dominion look proudly as q
worthy representative in the Govern
ment He is a man apparently a little
over the prime Of life, and has a qulet,
earnest-like address which p!eases one
who enters into conversation with him.
Though not what might be called a
brilliant statesman, this Irish Canadian
is reckoned among the leading parlia-
mentarians Of the country. and is re-
cognized as being an unf1inching adyo-
cate, in the Cabinet, OF the claims OF
his feliow-conntrymen to a fair share Of
Government patronage. The Hon.
John Costigan is native of the ancient
capital, having been born in Quebec
CITY 81 years ago. When still child
his parents removed to New Brunswick.
where the future Cabine, Minister re-
ceived the rudimenis OF education at
Victoria College. His school-days.
with the exception Of two years spent
at St. Anne's College, Quebec, were all
passed at The former institution, and
the Youthful scholar early showed sigus
of attaining to an honored position in
after life. at the age Of rs young Ccs-
tigan entered political life, successfully
contesting the united constituencies
of Madawaska aud Victoria counties,
New Brunswick, for the Provincial AS
sembly, for which he held his seat con-
tinuously until the Confederation in
1867. Since that year be has repre-
sented the same constituency ably and
we'll in the Dominion Parliament
When the question of uniting all the
provinces into one whole first came up,
Mr.. Custigan opposed it,; but once con
federation was carried, he gave 1t his
strong support. He has contested seven
elections. and has been defeated but
once, and that at the time he opposed
the measure above mentioned. He is
the father of two sons and two'daugh-
tiers. one Of the latter, Miss Bertha
Costigan. a graduate of leading con
vent, having been led to the altar few
months since by Captain d. G. Bliss, a
,oung Ottawa Artillery officer. who be-
came a convert to Catholiclty previous
to gaining the young lady's hand. The
Hon. Mr. Costigan was the mover OF
the famous Irish Relief resolution in
1882. when the Canadian Parliament
voted $lO00J2 towards the starving
,,.,.>,. q + l,cp,o.s on6 o0air {qsE wear he
was the party proposing the motion in
favor of Home Rule for Ireland. which
was passed by the Dominion legis!a-
tors, although the latter resolution was